LAGUNA NIGUEL -- The Orange County Transportation Authority
(OCTA), Metrolink, and representatives from the cities of Laguna Niguel
and Mission Viejo officially opened Metrolink's newest commuter rail
station today. The station, Metrolink's 10th in Orange County, will serve
a total of 19 trains per day and will help relieve congestion at the popular
Irvine and San Juan Capistrano stops.

The $9.8 million facility is located on Forbes Road, near the
intersection of San Joaquin Hills Toll Road (73) and the I-5 Freeway. Its
construction was funded by OCTA with Measure M 1/2 cent sales tax
funds, and financial assistance from Caltrans and the cities of Laguna Niguel
and Mission Viejo.

"The new Laguna Niguel / Mission Viejo Metrolink station will
provide much-needed relief for overcrowding and parking challenges at
our neighboring Metrolink facilities," said OCTA Chairman & County
Supervisor Todd Spitzer. "This is just one of several projects OCTA is
facilitating in its effort to expand Metrolink service in Orange County."

Both Metrolink's Orange County Line, which runs between Los Angeles
and Oceanside, and its Inland Empire / Orange County Line,
which runs between San Bernardino and Oceanside, will serve the new
facility.

OCTA and Metrolink plan to open two additional stations in Buena Park
and Yorba Linda in the spring of 2004 and 2005, respectively.
Earlier this month, OCTA marked the start of Metrolink's new "91 Line",
which provides direct service between Riverside - Fullerton - Los Angeles
and becomes the third Metrolink line to serve Orange County.

Metrolink is the Southland's regional commuter rail system
operated by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), a
joint powers authority formed in 1991. It services the six counties of
Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Riverside, San Diego and San Bernardino,
traveling across more than 416 miles of rail -- 87 miles of
which are within Orange County.